Wednesday, November 19, 2014

My scroll saw broke down a few days ago and I had to replace the broken part. I thought someone might find useful a video about it. At first I thought it was not going to work again. Then I found out that I can buy a new part and replace it easily.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

I am not a high end woodworker. This method is not the best one out there but is good enough for me and the type of woodworking I practice.

First of all you need a sharpening kit. The kit contains a two sided sharpening stone, mechanical oil and a sharpening jig.

First of all I mount my chisel or my plane iron on the jig. The jig will help me establish the angle of the cutting bevel of my tool. I usually sharpen my tools at 30 degrees.

I begin with the lower grit side of the stone. I oil it and then sharpen my chisel with back and forth movements.

Then I turn around the stone and repeat the process with the finer grit side.

After a while a small curve is created on the tip of the blade. This is called the burr. You can barely see the burr with naked eye but you definitely can feel it with your fingers. In order to have a sharp tool you need to remove that burr. To do so gently sharpen the back side of the tool. After a few light passes the bevel is removed.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

To begin with, we need to make a jig. The jig is just a piece of MDF with an equilateral triangle hole in the middle. The sides of the triangular have the same length with the end grain sides of a piece of pine I will use with the jig later. To make the triangle first I draw a line and then another line at a 60 degree angle. Then I take the compass and measure equal lengths for the sides of the angle. I join the two end points and I have a triangle with all it’s three sides equal. Then I cut out the triangle on my scroll saw.

Now I take my pine piece and fit it into the triangle. It fits OK.

I mark the four points of the end grain side of my piece. I secure the jig on my vise and fit the pine piece with one angle out. I cut it with my flush trim saw. I do that for the other three marked corners of my piece.

The base of my flower is now ready. Now I mark some points with my compass and a ruler. I mark the two sides that are at a 90 degree angle with each other. Then I cut out the first side on my scroll saw. Then I cut out the other side on my scroll saw. For this 3D cutting the scroll saw receives much pressure so you need to have a fairly big blade and slow speed on it.

Our 3D flower is ready. For the stalk of the flower I use a dowel which I bent with water and heat. Be careful if you do that and take all the necessary safety precautions. I scrape off the burning marks with my utility knife.

For the flower leaves I cut some of my pyramid scraps with a chisel and a blow with the direction of the grain.

I create some wood savings with my block plane for the inner flower part.

I use the scrap pyramids from the first cut as cubistic rocks for the base of the flower.

Thursday, November 6, 2014

This is a miniature catapult made of some scrap pine pieces I had. It used to be the laundry basket.

First of all I cut the side pieces to size. I clamp two of them in 90 degree angle, and trace the miters of the third piece with a pencil. I make some pilot holes with my rotary tool and screw the pieces in place.

I drill the holes for the wheels and the catapult's spoon base. It’s easier to do that now.

I mount the inner pieces with screws. To make things easier I use clamps to hold thing in place before I add the first screws.

I cut a round piece on an inner piece for the spoon to fit nicely.

I add some screws for to act as holders for the rubber bands.

I flatten the base of the spoon a little bit, to be able to drill easier. I drill in order for the dowel to go through it.

At this point I realized I made a mistake and I have to move the inner middle piece back. Otherwise the spoon doesn’t have enough space to move.

I secure the spoon’s dowel with a few screws.

Now I make the wheels. I join two pieces of wood with my block plane. I glue and clamp the pieces. I place the clamps on opposite directions in order for the piece to be glued straight.

I cut out the wheels using a hole saw bit on my drill press.

I glue the wheels in place.

To make the spoon, I begin by removing a circle with the hole saw bit. I trace the spoon around it and cut it out on the scroll saw. I also cut notch on it. I cut the back of the spoon out of a scrap plywood piece. I glue them together and add a few nails.

To fit the dowel in the spoon I carve the end of it with a knife until I have a snug fit. I glue it and nail it in place.

I assemble my catapult.

I make some ball of paper tape to use as ammunition and I am ready to roll!